Contents

Great Britain in the late 22nd century is slowly recovering from the devastation that followed the Daleks' invasion. The Doctor's very first travelling companion—his granddaughter, Susan—is where he left her, helping to rebuild Earth for the survivors. But danger still remains all around... While searching for his lost companion, Sam, the Doctor finds himself in Domain London. But it seems that Susan is now missing too, and his efforts to find her lead to confrontation with the ambitious Lord Haldoran, who is poised to take control of southern Britain through all-out war. With the help of a sinister advisor, Haldoran's plans are already well advanced. Power cables have been fed down a mineshaft, reactivating a mysterious old device of hideous power. But has the Dalek presence on Earth really been wiped out? Or are there still traps set for the unwary?

The Doctor learns to his cost once again that when dealing with the evil of the Daleks, nothing can be taken at face value...

This story provides a major reason for why the Master had regenerated into his final form when the Fourth Doctor met him in The Deadly Assassin. The reason provided in this novel is that the Master stole a Dalek Superweapon, and with Susan in tow, took his TARDIS to Terserus. However, Susan used the telepathic circuits to overpower the Master, and kicked him out of his TARDIS. He was still clutching the superweapon when Susan shot it with the Tissue Compression Eliminator, causing it to explode. Susan took his TARDIS, and the Master regenerated. Chancellor Goth detected the TARDIS leaving the planet, and found the Master there. From there, the events of The Deadly Assassin take place.